Ocean Park on Display at Karaka Million

Cox Plate winner
Ocean Park (NZ) – currently being primed
for a full assault on England and Ireland’s summer
features in 2013 - will continue his preparation with a
guest appearance at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at
Ellerslie next Sunday 27 January.

Ocean Park’s trainer
Gary Hennessy has committed his outstanding charge to a
gallop between Race 2 & Race 3 of next weekend’s Karaka
Million Twilight Meeting, held on the eve of the Karaka
Yearling Sales, the same Sale Series where Hennessy sourced
Ocean Park (Thorn Park x Sayyida, by Zabeel) in 2010 for
NZ$150,000.

“I was talking to Andrew Castles (Director
of Racing at the Auckland Racing Club) and we decided that a
gallop between races at the Karaka Million meeting would be
better than a trial,” commented Hennessy.

Ocean Park’s
connections have set an ambitious campaign for the
four-year-old entire for 2013 which could see him contest
Group 1 races in New Zealand, Dubai, England and
Ireland.

“He will resume in the Group 1 Haunui Farm
Classic on 23 February and then we will head to Dubai for
the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (1800m) on 30 March,” said
Hennessy.

“We discussed the Duty Free with Brent
Thompson and we think that it’s a good race for him as he
won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes in the spring over 1800
metres.

“We are under no illusions and it’s a big
challenge as we saw with Sunline in 2001, but he has great
form around him and he beat some very good horses in the
spring.”

Ocean Park will then head to Royal Ascot which
Hennessy hopes will be the start of a full campaign for
Ocean Park over the English and Irish summer.

“We will
give the horse a good break after Dubai and then head to the
Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot,” said Hennessy.
“The straight mile over the undulating Ascot course
requires a horse to be able to run a strong 1600 metres as
it’s a testing race and we think that it’s the right
race for him.

“We are hoping to keep the horse in
England and Ireland over their summer so races like the
Irish Champion Stakes are on the cards. That race has been
won by some of the world’s best horses including
Sadler’s Wells, High Chaparral and Sea the Stars. Races
like the English Champion Stakes towards the end of their
season are also an option.”

The English Champion Stakes
is another high profile race having been won by the likes of
New Approach, Cirrus des Aigles and Frankel last
year.

Ocean Park was offered by Trelawney Stud at the 2010 Karaka Select
Sale and the Stud will offer a half-brother to the Cox Plate
winner by Pins on the second day of the Karaka Premier Sale
(Tuesday 29 January) at Lot 330.

“Ocean
Park’s dam Sayyida throws lovely types,” commented
Trelawney Stud principal Brent Taylor. “Having Ocean Park
make $150,000 in the 2010 Select Sale and then Lady Sayyida
(Iffraaj) top the Select Sale the following year is a
testament to that and the Pins colt is very much in that
mould, he’s a lovely type.”

Lady Sayyida (Iffraaj) topped the 2011
Select Sale when purchased by her trainer Roger James for
$290,000.

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